Saturday's G1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) shapes as a cracker of a race with established stars and obvious future ones as well clashing in the $1.5m contest. Everest
11:10, May 10 2021
Race Images/Grant Matthew
Platinum Star provides Lisa Latta with her 1000th New Zealand training success.
RACING: A barnstorming late run by 3-year-old filly Platinum Star that carried her to a maiden victory at Woodville on Sunday also brought up a special milestone for trainer Lisa Latta. The victory was Latta’s 1000th New Zealand career winner after she was encouraged to step out as a trainer in her own right following the death of her boss and mentor Malcolm Smith in 1998. Latta trained five winners in her first solo season and had built an enviable record over the past 24 years through the deeds of quality gallopers such as Wharite Princess, Fort Lincoln, Mikki Street, Platinum Witness, Platinum Invador and Sentimental Miss.
Robusto (inner) holds out Sound in the Avondale Cup at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Rugged stayer Robusto ($39) upset the applecart when she produced a well-timed finish to deny Aussie raider Sound a victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Avondale Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained six-year-old shrugged off a disappointing run in the Wellington Cup (3200m) at her last start to thrust her name into Auckland Cup (3200m) contention as she overcame traffic problems in the home straight to claim her biggest career victory. Given a perfect run in the trail by rider Sam Collett, the daughter of Zed tracked Sound into the race on the home corner before shooting through on his inner at the 200m.
Racing: Sam Collett can collar the double at Ellerslie
30 Dec, 2020 11:00 AM
5 minutes to read
Coventina Bay is another late-closing rocket who tends to get well back in the running. Photo / File
NZ Herald
By: Michael Guerin
Sam Collett has been at the top of racing s tree long enough to know how this works.
Already a premiership champion, winner of the last two Auckland Cups and one of the most popular jockeys in the country, Collett knows the first day of 2021 could go different ways.
In the dream scenario, Collett could have two perfect rides and snare the $200,000 Railway with Levante and the $100,000 Rich Hill Mile with Coventina Bay.
Racing: Levante handed unlucky draw for Sistema Railway
29 Dec, 2020 07:03 AM
3 minutes to read
Barrier one would usually be considered a blessing over 1200m at Ellerslie but not on a mare who often misses the kick. Photo / Photosport
NZ Herald
It is not often a glamour horse draws one in a major sprint race and it actually costs them favouritism but that is the odd position Levante finds herself into heading into the $200,000 Sistema Railway at Ellerslie on Friday.
But at least the punters who back her are used to uncomfortable moments on their way to getting a collect.
Levante has been the hype horse of the summer since a spectacular comeback win at Pukekohe last month when she came from last to exploded past many of Friday s field.